Method and apparatus for location-based, just in time social networking

ABSTRACT

In one embodiment, the present disclosure is a method and apparatus for location-based, just in time social networking. In one embodiment, a method for providing a social network includes receiving a request from a first user of the social network to provide information from a location of interest specified by the first user, and locating a group comprising at least one other user of the social network, where each of the at least one other user is currently at the location of interest and has volunteered to provide information from the location of interest, wherein the group is selected from a larger group of other users who are at a plurality of locations of interest.

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/566,476, filed Sep. 24, 2009, which is currently allowed and isherein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates generally to social networks and relatesmore particularly to location-based, just in time social networks.

BACKGROUND

It is desirable in many situations to get real-time, just in time (i.e.,substantially immediately when needed) information from a location;however, there are few convenient ways of obtaining the neededinformation in a timely manner.

For example, a family may be considering a trip to a local museum. Thedecision to go may depend on several factors, such as how crowded themuseum is, which prominent exhibits may be open or closed, how muchparking is available, or how heavy the traffic approaching the museumis. The family could call the museum, but they may receive onlypre-recorded information. If the family is unable to speak to a liveperson, they may not be able to obtain the most current contextual or“opinion-based” information that will help them make their decision.

Other situations in which a person may require real-time, just in timeinformation from a location might include: trying to gauge delays at anairport, such as the lengths of the check-in and security lines; tryingto find information about an unfolding event that has little or no mediacoverage; or simple curiosity.

SUMMARY

In one embodiment, the present disclosure is a method and apparatus forlocation-based, just in time social networking. In one embodiment, amethod for providing a social network includes receiving a request froma first user of the social network to provide information from alocation of interest specified by the first user, and locating a groupcomprising at least one other user of the social network, where each ofthe at least one other user is currently at the location of interest andhas volunteered to provide information from the location of interest,wherein the group is selected from a larger group of other users who areat a plurality of locations of interest.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The teaching of the present disclosure can be readily understood byconsidering the following detailed description in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an exemplary social networkaccording to embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram illustrating a first embodiment of a method forproviding a location-based, just in time social network, according tothe present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating one embodiment of a method forrequesting location-based, just in time information, according to thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating one embodiment of a method forproviding location-based, just in time information, according to thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating a second embodiment of a methodfor providing a location-based, just in time social network, accordingto the present disclosure; and

FIG. 6 is a high level block diagram of the social networking methodthat is implemented using a general purpose computing device.

To facilitate understanding, identical reference numerals have beenused, where possible, to designate identical elements that are common tothe figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In one embodiment, the present disclosure is a method and apparatus forlocation-based, just in time social networking. Embodiments of thedisclosure provide a means for users to identify and connect to otherusers at a location of interest, where the users at the location ofinterest have volunteered to provide real-time, just in timeinformation. The real-time, just in time social network established inaccordance with the present disclosure is ad-hoc in that the users donot need to know each other, or invite each other to be part of theirsocial networks, before communicating to share information. The usersidentify and connect to each other when they need to, ad hoc, just intime, and, in some embodiments, completely anonymously.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an exemplary social network100 according to embodiments of the present disclosure. As illustrated,the social network 100 comprises a communication network 102, a socialnetworking application 104 connected to the communication network 102,and a plurality of users 106 ₁-106 _(n) (hereinafter collectivelyreferred to as “users 106”) connected to the communication network 102.

The communication network 102 is any kind of network that facilitatescommunications between remote users and between users and remoteapplications. For example, the communication network 102 may include oneor more of: a computer network (e.g., a local area network, a wide areanetwork, a virtual private network), the Internet, the public switchedtelephone network, a peer-to-peer network, a cellular network, a packetnetwork, or the like.

The users 106 connect to the communication network 102 via one or morecommunication devices. These communication devices may include, forexample: landline telephones, cellular telephones, personal digitalassistants, personal computers, laptop computers, personal mediaplayers, gaming consoles, set top boxes, or the like. Using thesecommunication devices, the users 106 are able to connect to each otherand to the social networking application 104 via the communicationnetwork 102.

In one embodiment, the social networking application 104 comprises a webportal that hosts a real-time, just in time social networkingapplication. In one embodiment, the web portal is implemented in one ormore devices such as servers, databases, or the like. In addition, theweb portal comprises technology for tracking user locations, such as oneor more global positioning system devices or radio towers. In oneembodiment, the social networking application 104 is accessed over thecommunication network 102 via one or more uniform resource locators.

As discussed in further detail below, the users 106 access the socialnetworking application 104 via the communication network 102. Using thesocial networking application 104, the users 106 are able to identifyother users 106 at various locations of interest who have volunteered toprovide real-time, just in time information (broadly defined asinformation that is substantially immediately needed or information thatis provided substantially immediately as requested to reflect a currentstate, e.g., at a location of interest) regarding the locations ofinterest. Having used the social networking application 104 to identifythese other users 106, the users 106 may then connect directly to eachother via the communication network 102, or the users 106 maycommunicate using the social networking application 104 as anintermediary.

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram illustrating a first embodiment of a method 200for providing a location-based, just in time social network, accordingto the present disclosure. Specifically, the method 200 enables users toidentify each other and to connect directly to each other to exchangereal-time, just in time information. The method 200 may be executed, forexample, by the social networking application 104 illustrated in FIG. 1.As such, reference is made within the context of the method 200 tovarious components of the social network 100 illustrated in FIG. 1. Itwill be appreciated, however, that the method 200 is not limited toexecution within, the social network 100 and may, in fact, haveapplication in networks that are configured in alternative manners.

The method 200 is initialized at step 202 and proceeds to step 204,where the social networking application 104 receives a plurality ofrequests to register users 106. By registering with the socialnetworking application 104, the users 106 indicate a desire to join thesocial network 100. For example, one or more of the users 106 may wishto join the social network so that they can obtain real-time, just intime information regarding a location of interest. Alternatively, one ormore of the users 106 may wish to join the social network so that theycan provide real-time, just in time information to other users 106. Instep 206, the social networking application 104 registers the users 106to the social network 100.

In step 208, the social networking application 104 receives a requestfrom a first user 106 for real-time, just in time information from alocation of interest. In one embodiment, the location of interest is aphysical location, such as an establishment or street address. In oneembodiment, the request comprises a selection by the first user (e.g.,from a menu or a free-form field) of the location of interest. Forinstance, the user might select “Times Square, New York” or “The Rockand Roll Hall of Fame” from a menu of pre-populated entries, or mightenter a specific street address into a free-form field. Referring toFIG. 1, for example, user 106 ₁ may send a request from his homecomputer for real-time, just in time information from a local artmuseum. In one embodiment, the first user sends the request by accessinga portal.

In step 210, the social networking application 104 searches for a groupof one or more users 106 who have volunteered to provide real-time, justin time information from the location of interest. It should be notedthat the group is selected from a larger group of other users who arelocated at a plurality of different locations. Thus, the located groupof other users is a subset of the larger group of other users. Themethod 200 then proceeds to step 212, where the social networkingapplication 104 identifies the group of users to the first user. Forexample, referring again to FIG. 1, the social networking application104 may determine that users 106 ₃ and 106 _(n) have volunteered toprovide real-time, just in time information from the local art museum.In this case, the social networking application will identify users 106₃ and 106 _(n) to the first user.

The method 200 then terminates in step 214. At this point, the firstuser may select one or more volunteers from the group of volunteers towhom to connect directly, as discussed in further detail with respect toFIGS. 3 and 4.

The real-time, just in time social network provided in accordance withthe method 200 is ad-hoc in that the users 106 do not need to know eachother, or invite each other to be part of their social networks, beforecommunicating to share information. Users 106 identify and connect toeach other when they need to, ad hoc, just in time, and, in someembodiments, completely anonymously.

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating one embodiment of a method 300 forrequesting location-based, just in time information, according to thepresent disclosure. The method 300 assumes that several users havealready registered as users with a real-time, just in time socialnetworking application, such as the social networking application 104described in FIGS. 1 and 2. The method 300 may be executed, for example,by a communication device used by one of the users 106 illustrated inFIG. 1. As such, reference is made within the context of the method 300to various components of the social network 100 illustrated in FIG. 1.It will be appreciated, however, that the method 300 is not limited toexecution within the social network 100 and may, in fact, haveapplication in networks that are configured in alternative manners.

The method 300 is initialized in step 302 and proceeds to step 304,where a communication device used by a first user 106 (e.g., user 106 ₁of FIG. 1) sends a request to the social networking application 104 forreal-time, just in time information from a location of interest. Forexample, as described above, user 106 ₁ of FIG. 1 may send a requestfrom his home computer for real-time, just in time information from alocal art museum. In one embodiment, the request is sent via a portal.

In step 306, the communication device receives a response from thesocial networking application 104, where the response identifies to thecommunication device a group of one or more users 106 who havevolunteered to provide real-time, just in time information from thelocation of interest. For example, as discussed above, the response mayidentify users 106 ₃ and 106 _(n) of FIG. 1 as being willing to providereal-time, just in time information from the location of interest.

In step 308, the communication device receives a signal from the firstuser 106 indicating a selection of a second user 106 from the group ofusers. The signal indicates that the first user 106 wishes to initiate acommunication with the second user 106 to obtain the requestedreal-time, just in time information. For instance, referring again toFIG. 1, the signal may indicate that the first user 106 ₁ wishes tocommunicate with user 106 ₃, who is currently at the art museum. Thesignal may be received from the first user via any one or more of aplurality of modalities, including a tactile modality (e.g., pushing abutton on the communication device or on a graphical user interface on adisplay of the communication device), an audio modality (e.g., issuing averbal command to the communication device), or a visual modality (e.g.,gesturing a command to the communication device).

In step 310, the communication device sends a request to the seconduser. For example, the request may comprise a telephonic communication,a short message service (SMS) communication, or a multimedia messagingsystem (MMS) communication. The request requests that the second user106 communicate with the first user 106 and may additionally include thespecific real-time, just in time information that the first user 106wishes to obtain. In one embodiment, the request is sent directly to thesecond user. In another embodiment, the request is sent to the seconduser via the social networking application 104, which serves as anintermediary. One embodiment of a method in which the social networkingapplication 104 acts as a communication intermediary is discussed ingreater detail in connection with FIG. 5

In step 312, the communication device receives a response from thesecond user 106. For example, the response may comprise a telephoniccommunication, a short message service (SMS) communication, or amultimedia messaging system (MMS) communication. The request indicateswhether the second user 106 agrees to communicate with the first user106 and may additionally include specific real-time, just in timeinformation requested by the first user 106. In one embodiment, theresponse is received directly from the second user. In anotherembodiment, the response is received via the social networkingapplication 104, which serves as an intermediary.

In step 314, the communication device determines whether to terminatethe communication between the first user 106 and the second user 106. Inone embodiment, this determination is made in accordance with a signalreceived from the first user 106 (e.g., a signal indicating that thecommunication with the second user 106 should terminate). The signal maybe received from the first user via any one or more of a plurality ofmodalities, including a tactile modality (e.g., pushing a button on thecommunication device or on a graphical user interface on a display ofthe communication device), an audio modality (e.g., issuing a verbalcommand to the communication device), or a visual modality (e.g.,gesturing a command to the communication device).

If the communication device concludes in step 314 that the communicationbetween the first user 106 and the second user 106 should not terminate,the method 300 returns to step 310 and proceeds as described above, suchthat the communication device continues to send and receive requests andresponses until all of the desired information is obtained. Forinstance, the first user 106 may obtain all or part of the real-time,just in time information that he or she wishes to obtain over the courseof several exchanges with the second user 106 (e.g., through multipleSMS communications).

Alternatively, if the communication device concludes in step 314 thatthe communication between the first user 106 and the second user 106should terminate, the method 300 terminates in step 316.

The first user is therefore able to communicate with a user (i.e., thesecond user) who is currently at a location of interest in order toobtain real-time, just in time information from the location ofinterest. In this way, the first user can obtain information that ismore current and more relevant to his or her inquiry. It will beappreciated that if the first user cannot obtain all of the informationhe or she wishes to obtain from one user at the location of interest,then the first user may contact one or more other users at the locationof interest who have volunteered to provide real-time, just in timeinformation. For example, if user 106 ₃ is unable to tell the first user106 ₁ how long the ticket lines at the museum are, the first user 106 ₁may be able to get this information from user 106 _(n).

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating one embodiment of a method 400 forproviding location-based, just in time information, according to thepresent disclosure. The method 400 assumes that several users havealready registered as users with a real-time, just in time socialnetworking application, such as the social networking application 104described in FIGS. 1 and 2. The method 400 may be executed, for example,by a communication device used by one of the users 106 illustrated inFIG. 1. As such, reference is made within the context of the method 400to various components of the social network 100 illustrated in FIG. 1.It will be appreciated, however, that the method 400 is not limited toexecution within the social network 100 and may, in fact, haveapplication in networks that are configured in alternative manners.

The method 400 is initialized in step 402 and proceeds to step 404,where a communication device used by a first user 106 (e.g., user 106 ₃of FIG. 1) receives a signal from the first user indicating an intent tovolunteer to provide real-time, just in time information from a locationof interest. For instance, referring again to FIG. 1, the signal mayindicate that the first user 106 ₃ wishes to volunteer to providereal-time, just in time information from the art museum via his mobilephone. The signal may be received from the first user via any one ormore of a plurality of modalities, including a tactile modality (e.g.,pushing a button on the communication device or on a graphical userinterface on a display of the communication device), an audio modality(e.g., issuing a verbal command to the communication device), or avisual modality (e.g., gesturing a command to the communication device).

In step 406, the communication device sends a message indicating thefirst user's intent to volunteer. For example, the communication devicemay send the message to the social networking application 104, so thatthe social networking application 104 is aware of the first user'swillingness to provide the real-time, just in time information. In oneembodiment, the message is sent via a portal.

In step 408, the communication device receives a request from a seconduser 106. For example, the request may be from the user 106 ₁, whowishes to obtain real-time, just in time information from the artmuseum. The response may comprise a telephonic communication, a shortmessage service (SMS) communication, or a multimedia messaging system(MMS) communication. In one embodiment, the request asks whether thefirst user 106 is willing to communicate with the second user 106. In afurther embodiment, the request specifically identifies the real-time,just in time information that the second user 106 wishes to obtain(e.g., the length of the line for tickets). In one embodiment, therequest is received directly from the second user 106. In anotherembodiment, the communication is received from the second user 106 viathe social networking application 104, which serves as an intermediary.

In step 410, the communication device sends a response to the request.The response indicates whether the first user 106 is willing tocommunicate with the second user 106 and may additionally includespecific real-time, just in time information that the second user 106wishes to obtain. For example, the response may comprise a telephoniccommunication, a short message service (SMS) communication, or amultimedia messaging system (MMS) communication. In one embodiment, theresponse is sent directly to the second user. In another embodiment, theresponse is sent via the social networking application 104, which servesas an intermediary.

In step 412, the communication device determines whether to terminatethe communication between the first user 106 and the second user 106. Inone embodiment, this determination is made in accordance with a signalreceived from the first user 106 (e.g., a signal indicating that thecommunication with the second user 106 should terminate). The signal maybe received from the first user via any one or more of a plurality ofmodalities, including a tactile modality (e.g., pushing a button on thecommunication device or on a graphical user interface on a display ofthe communication device), an audio modality (e.g., issuing a verbalcommand to the communication device), or a visual modality (e.g.,gesturing a command to the communication device). The first user 106 mayindicate that the communication should be terminated if he or she hasprovided all of the real-time, just in time information that he or shecan provide to the second user 106.

If the communication device concludes in step 412 that the communicationbetween the first user 106 and the second user 106 should not terminate,the method 400 returns to step 408 and proceeds as described above, suchthat the communication device continues to send and receive responsesand requests until all of the desired information is provided. Forinstance, the second user 106 may obtain all or part of the real-time,just in time information that he or she wishes to obtain over the courseof several exchanges with the first user 106 (e.g., through multiple SMScommunications).

Alternatively, if the communication device concludes in step 412 thatcommunication between the first user 106 and the second user 106 shouldterminate, the method 400 terminates in step 414.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating a second embodiment of a method500 for providing a location-based, just in time social network,according to the present disclosure. The method 500 is substantiallysimilar to the method 200; however, in the case of the method 500,communications between users are brokered by an intermediary rather thanexchanged directly. The method 500 may be executed, for example, by thesocial networking application 104 illustrated in FIG. 1. As such,reference is made within the context of the method 500 to variouscomponents of the social network 100 illustrated in FIG. 1. It will beappreciated, however, that the method 500 is not limited to executionwithin the social network 100 and may, in fact, have application innetworks that are configured in alternative manners.

The method 500 is initialized at step 502 and proceeds to step 504,where the social networking application 104 receives a plurality ofrequests to register users 106. By registering with the socialnetworking application 104, the users 106 indicate a desire to join thesocial network 100. For example, one or more of the users 106 may wishto join the social network so that they can obtain real-time, just intime information regarding a location of interest. Alternatively, one ormore of the users 106 may wish to join the social network so that theycan provide real-time, just in time information to other users 106. Instep 506, the social networking application 104 registers the users 106to the social network 100.

In step 508, the social networking application 104 receives a requestfrom a first user 106 for real-time, just in time information from alocation of interest. In one embodiment, the request comprises aselection by the first user (e.g., from a menu or a free-form field) ofthe location of interest. For instance, the user might select “TimesSquare, New York” or “The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame” from a menu ofpre-populated entries, or might enter a specific street address into afree-form field. Referring to FIG. 1, for example, user 106 ₁ may send arequest from his home computer for real-time, just in time informationfrom a local art museum. In one embodiment, the first user sends therequest by accessing a portal.

In step 510, the social networking application 104 searches for a groupof one or more users 106 who are willing to provide real-time, just intime information from the location of interest. The method 500 thenproceeds to step 512, where the social networking application 104identifies the group of users to the first user. For example, referringagain to FIG. 1, the social networking application 104 may determinethat users 106 ₃ and 106 _(n) have indicated a willingness to providereal-time, just in time information from the local art museum. In thiscase, the social networking application will identify users 106 ₃ and106 _(n) to the first user.

In step 514, the social networking application 104 receives a selectionfrom the first user of a second user from the group of users. Forexample, referring again to FIG. 1, the user 106 ₁ may select user 106₃. The method 500 then proceeds to step 516, where the social networkingapplication 104 sends a request to the second user on behalf of thefirst user. In one embodiment, the request indicates that the first userwishes to communicate with the second user. In a further embodiment, therequest identifies the specific real-time, just in time information thatthe first user wishes to obtain. For example, the request may comprise atelephonic communication, a short message service (SMS) communication,or a multimedia messaging system (MMS) communication.

In step 518, the social networking application 104 receives a responsefrom the second user. The response indicates whether the second user 106agrees to communicate with the first user 106 and may further includespecific real-time, just in time information that the first user 106wishes to obtain. For example, the response may comprise a telephoniccommunication, a short message service (SMS) communication, or amultimedia messaging system (MMS) communication. The social networkingapplication 104 then delivers the response to the first user in step520.

In step 522, the social networking application 104 determines whetherthe communication between the first user 106 and the second user 106should terminate. In one embodiment, this determination is made inaccordance with a signal received from the first user 106 (e.g., asignal indicating that the communication with the second user 106 shouldterminate). The first user 106 may indicate that the communicationshould be terminated if he or she has obtained all of the real-time,just in time information that he or she can obtain from the second user106.

If the social networking application 104 concludes in step 522 that thecommunication between the first user 106 and the second user 106 shouldnot terminate, the method 500 returns to step 516 and proceeds asdescribed above, such that the social networking application 104continues to send and receive requests and responses on behalf of thefirst user 106 and the second user 106 until all of the desiredinformation is obtained. For instance, the first user 106 may obtain allor part of the real-time, just in time information that he or she wishesto obtain over the course of several exchanges with the second user 106(e.g., through multiple SMS communications).

Alternatively, if the social networking application 104 concludes instep 522 that the communication between the first user 106 and thesecond user 106 should terminate, the method 500 terminates in step 524.

The method 500 is therefore substantially similar to the method 200;however, the method 500 preserves the privacy of the users by insertingthe social networking application 104 as an intermediary incommunications between users. In one embodiment, a service provider whoprovides the social network 100 may charge a fee to users 106 who wishto use the social networking application 104 as an intermediary (e.g., aflat fee or $0.xy per exchange).

Although FIGS. 2 and 5 illustrate methods in which users 106 use thesocial networking application 104 to search for and select users at thelocation of interest, in some embodiments of the present disclosure thisstep is bypassed. In other words, a user's request for real-time, justin time information may be delivered directly to a user at the locationof interest without giving the requesting user the option to selectwhich user at the location of interest will respond.

It is also possible that in some cases, there may be no users currentlywilling to provide real-time, just in time information from the locationof interest. In such a case, the social networking application 104 willinform the requesting user that no users are available at the locationof interest.

In one embodiment, a service provider who provides the social network100 may charge users 106 a fee to access the social network 100.Alternatively, the service provider may provide basic social networkingfeatures for free, but charge for extra features such as the ability touse the social networking application 104 as an intermediary inexchanges with other users 106.

In further embodiments, users 106 who register as volunteers to providereal-time, just in time information via the social network 100 mayreceive some form of compensation for their services (e.g., $0.xy or xcredits per response). This compensation may be redeemed, for example,when these users need to use the social network 100 to obtaininformation. In other embodiments, the service provider may charge aper-transaction fee (e.g., $0.xx per query) for a user seekinginformation, where a fraction of this fee is shared as compensation withthe user who provides the information and the service provider keeps theremainder.

FIG. 6 is a high level block diagram of the social networking methodthat is implemented using a general purpose computing device 600. In oneembodiment, a general purpose computing device 600 comprises a processor602, a memory 604, a social networking module 605 and variousinput/output (I/O) devices 606 such as a display, a keyboard, a mouse, amodem, a stylus, a joystick, a keypad, controller, and the like. In oneembodiment, at least one I/O device is a storage device (e.g., a diskdrive, an optical disk drive, a floppy disk drive). It should beunderstood that the social networking module 605 can be implemented as aphysical device or subsystem that is coupled to a processor through acommunication channel.

Alternatively, the social networking module 605 can be represented byone or more software applications (or even a combination of software andhardware, e.g., using Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASIC)),where the software is loaded from a storage medium (e.g., I/O devices606) and operated by the processor 602 in the memory 604 of the generalpurpose computing device 600. Thus, in one embodiment, the socialnetworking module 605 for providing a real-time, just in time socialnetwork described herein with reference to the preceding Figures can bestored on a computer readable storage medium (e.g., RAM, magnetic oroptical drive or diskette, and the like).

It should be noted that although not explicitly specified, one or moresteps of the methods described herein may include a storing, displayingand/or outputting step as required for a particular application. Inother words, any data, records, fields, and/or intermediate resultsdiscussed in the methods can be stored, displayed, and/or outputted toanother device as required for a particular application. Furthermore,steps or blocks in the accompanying Figures that recite a determiningoperation or involve a decision, do not necessarily require that bothbranches of the determining operation be practiced. In other words, oneof the branches of the determining operation can be deemed as anoptional step.

While various embodiments have been described above, it should beunderstood that they have been presented by way of example only, and notlimitation. Thus, the breadth and scope of a preferred embodiment shouldnot be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, butshould be defined only in accordance with the following claims and theirequivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: sending, by a hardwareprocessor of a device of a first user to a social networking applicationserver, a request to be provided with information regarding a locationof interest, wherein the location of interest is a physical location,wherein the information regarding the location of interest is specifiedby the first user, wherein the device of the first user is not locatedat the location of interest; and receiving, by the hardware processor, aresponse to the request, wherein the response identifies a second user,wherein the second user is selected by the social networking applicationserver from a group of users who are at a plurality of locations,wherein the second user is at the location of interest and hasvolunteered to provide the information regarding the location ofinterest.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: sending a secondrequest for the information to a device of the second user.
 3. Themethod of claim 2, further comprising: receiving the information fromthe device of the second user.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein theresponse identifying the second user comprises an identification of thesecond user.
 5. The method of claim 3, wherein the information receivedfrom the device of the second user is received via a brokering serviceprovided by the social networking application server.
 6. The method ofclaim 3, wherein the information from the device of the second user isreceived via a multimedia messaging system communication.
 7. The methodof claim 3, wherein the information from the device of the second useris received via a short message service communication.
 8. The method ofclaim 3, wherein the information from the device of the second user isreceived via a telephonic communication.
 9. A computer readable storagedevice storing an executable program which when executed by a processorof a device of a first user, cause the processor to perform operations,the operations comprising: sending to a social networking applicationserver a request to be provided with information regarding a location ofinterest, wherein the location of interest is a physical location,wherein the information regarding the location of interest is specifiedby the first user, wherein the device of the first user is not locatedat the location of interest; and receiving a response to the request,wherein the response identifies a second user, wherein the second useris selected by the social networking application server from a group ofusers who are at a plurality of locations, wherein the second user is atthe location of interest and has volunteered to provide the informationregarding the location of interest.
 10. The computer readable storagedevice of claim 9, further comprising: sending a second request for theinformation to a device of the second user.
 11. The computer readablestorage device of claim 10, further comprising: receiving theinformation from the device of the second user.
 12. The computerreadable storage device of claim 9, wherein the response identifying thesecond user comprises an identification of the second user.
 13. Thecomputer readable storage device of claim 11, wherein the informationreceived from the device of the second user is received via a brokeringservice provided by the social networking application server.
 14. Thecomputer readable storage device of claim 11, wherein the informationfrom the device of the second user is received via a multimediamessaging system communication.
 15. The computer readable storage deviceof claim 11, wherein the information from the device of the second useris received via a short message service communication.
 16. The computerreadable storage device of claim 11, wherein the information from thedevice of the second user is received via a telephonic communication.17. A device comprising: a hardware processor; and a non-transitorycomputer-readable medium storing a plurality of instructions which, whenexecuted by the hardware processor, causes the hardware processor toperform operations, the operations comprising: sending to a socialnetworking application server a request to be provided with informationregarding a location of interest, wherein the location of interest is aphysical location, wherein the information regarding the location ofinterest is specified by a first user of the device, wherein the deviceis not located at the location of interest; and receiving a response tothe request, wherein the response identifies a second user, wherein thesecond user is selected by the social networking application server froma group of users who are at a plurality of locations, wherein the seconduser is at the location of interest and has volunteered to provide theinformation regarding the location of interest.
 18. The device of claim17, wherein the operations further comprise: sending a second requestfor the information to a device of the second user.
 19. The device ofclaim 18, the operations further comprising: receiving the informationfrom the device of the second user.
 20. The device of claim 17, whereinthe response identifying the second user comprises an identification ofthe second user.